Scots urged to take vitamin D supplement

New research shows that less than half of adults and children in Scotland are taking vitamin D supplements.

The latest Scottish Health Survey highlighted that just 36% of adults and 41% of children were taking vitamin D supplements in 2021.

Everyone in Scotland should take a daily 10 microgram vitamin D supplement this winter to help keep our bones and muscles healthy, according to a national marketing campaign by Food Standards Scotland.

Alana McDonald, Senior Public Health Nutrition Advisor at Food Standards Scotland said:

“Most people should be able to get all the nutrients they need from a healthy, balanced diet - but vitamin D is an exception because it is only found in small amounts in some foods.

“Our main source of vitamin D is sunlight. But, in Scotland, we only get enough of the right kind of sunlight to make vitamin D between April and September.

“This means that for roughly half the year we cannot make vitamin D from sunlight.

“This is why we encourage everyone to take a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D, particularly between October and March.”

The message will be delivered via adverts on social media and regular digital and social media posts by FSS and its partner organisations. This is FSS’s third marketing push highlighting the benefits of taking vitamin D supplements, following the success of the last campaign in which 37% of survey respondents recognised the campaign when prompted. This was even greater among those in lower socioeconomic groups (42%).

Everyone can buy vitamin D supplements, or vitamin D drops for children, over the counter at most pharmacies and supermarkets. Healthy Start vitamins, which contain vitamin D, are available free to all pregnant women in Scotland. Free vitamin D supplements are also available for mothers who breastfeed, in addition to infants and children under 3 years old.

The message is being supported by Public Health Scotland (PHS) who advise that vitamin D is “essential” for good bone and muscle health and encourage everyone to take a daily supplement.

Dr Nick Phin, Director of Public Health Science at PHS, added: “While everyone in Scotland is encouraged to take a daily supplement on vitamin D during the winter months, there are some groups of people who should take a daily supplement all year round.

“This includes all pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as children under 5 years old as they are at higher risk of not having enough vitamin D.

“In addition, those who have low exposure to the sun (those living in a care home for example) and those people from ethnic groups with dark skin (such as those of African, African-Caribbean and south Asian origin), who require more sun exposure to make vitamin D, are advised to take a daily supplement all year round.”